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Assuming the Orioles don't make any impact corner infielder additions in the next month, Mark Reynolds will head into Spring Training as the team's starting third baseman.

While there was thought to keeping Reynolds at first base, given his improved defensive play at that position, manager Buck Showalter said earlier this week that he believes the club is strongest with Reynolds at third base and Chris Davis at first.

"You are going to see Mark start out at third base in the spring. That's where we would like for him to play," Showalter said of Reynolds, who was charged with 26 errors in 253 chances at the hot corner. "We think Mark is a lot better than he's shown statistically. I think he's going to come in [to camp] lighter and little more nimble."

Zach wrote:I disagree with Buck on this one. I think that Davis would give us better defense at 3b while Reynolds looked slightly more competent at 1b.

If Davis could play 3rd base, why has he been playing 1st for so long and not 3rd? If Reynolds can improve slightly at 3rd by working on his footwork (which Don suggested is a possibility on Twitter), he could provide average/above-average value at 3rd instead of below average value at 1st. Davis most likely provides below average value at 3rd or 1st (assuming he doesn't start to hit).

osforlife wrote:Assuming the Orioles don't make any impact corner infielder additions in the next month, Mark Reynolds will head into Spring Training as the team's starting third baseman.

While there was thought to keeping Reynolds at first base, given his improved defensive play at that position, manager Buck Showalter said earlier this week that he believes the club is strongest with Reynolds at third base and Chris Davis at first.

"You are going to see Mark start out at third base in the spring. That's where we would like for him to play," Showalter said of Reynolds, who was charged with 26 errors in 253 chances at the hot corner. "We think Mark is a lot better than he's shown statistically. I think he's going to come in [to camp] lighter and little more nimble."

osforlife wrote:Assuming the Orioles don't make any impact corner infielder additions in the next month, Mark Reynolds will head into Spring Training as the team's starting third baseman.

While there was thought to keeping Reynolds at first base, given his improved defensive play at that position, manager Buck Showalter said earlier this week that he believes the club is strongest with Reynolds at third base and Chris Davis at first.

"You are going to see Mark start out at third base in the spring. That's where we would like for him to play," Showalter said of Reynolds, who was charged with 26 errors in 253 chances at the hot corner. "We think Mark is a lot better than he's shown statistically. I think he's going to come in [to camp] lighter and little more nimble."

I like it. Don't think Reynolds makes that many errors again and Davis is below-average at 3B anyway.

I think what's most important here is that REYNOLDS will like it. His greatest market value is as a 3B. If the rest of the league sees he can't hold that position on OUR team I doubt they will see him as a premier 3B going forward. Should give him some motivation to work hard and improve.